Healthy Aging with Assistive Care: Is It Right for You?

Nothing is better than the comfort of home, but sometimes, a health issue can make it hard to manage everyday activities of living on your own.

It’s important to educate yourself about the options available to help you remain safely at home.

Did you know that home health care providers offer assistive, or personal, care services to help you with these kinds of tasks?

These services are provided by home health aides on an on-going basis over two-hour or more shifts and can be, in most cases, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Assistive care typically includes self-care services such as:

• Dressing and grooming
• Walking, moving, and transferring (Including the safe use of wheelchairs, walkers, or lifts)
• Basic exercise
• Reminders about medications and appointments
• Meal preparation, help with eating, and nutritious food selection

As well as household support services such as:

• Light housekeeping, such as vacuuming, dusting, and sweeping
• Washing and folding laundry
• Trash removal
• Shopping for groceries, picking up prescriptions, and other errands
• Companionship (such as conversation, reading, and on outings)

If you are having trouble managing these activities of daily living, then you may benefit from assistive care services. According to eldercare.gov, assistive care provides the support needed to allow seniors to live independently for as long as possible.

Many older adults in need of assistive care services can receive support from the Older Americans Act (OAA). The OAA Supportive Services and Senior Centers Program funds a broad array of services, including assistance that enables seniors to remain in their homes for as long as possible.